Democracy is increasingly the standard against which societies are measured. The term “democratic culture” designates the set of attitudes and behaviours that citizens need to have for democratic institutions and laws to function in practice. This is an important development from older perceptions of democracy, which focused on institutions, laws and procedures. It is a recognition that democracy will not function unless citizens want it to function. In all countries there are committed individuals aspiring to make their societies better democracies.

As the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has said on several occasions, our societies seek to address 21st-century issues through 19th-century institutions. Through contributions by authors from Europe, North America and other parts of the world, this book explores how higher education can help find new ways to develop commitment to public space and societal engagement and make democracy more vibrant.

Contents

A WORD FROM THE EDITORSSjur Bergan, Tony Gallagher and Ira HarkavyPART I – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIONChapter 1 – Not taking democracy for granted: higher education, inclusion and community trustNancy Cantor and Peter EnglotChapter 2 – Higher education for democratic innovation: challenges and opportunitiesSnežana Samardžić-MarkovićChapter 3 – Social justice at the centre: is it possible?Ahmed C. BawaPART II – UNIVERSITY AND CITYChapter 4 – Civic engagement in a divided society: the role of Queen’s University Belfast in Northern IrelandTony Gallagher and Jennifer HarrisonChapter 5 – Community engagement in Belfast: Queen’s University and the Sandy Row communityJackie McDonald, Nikki Johnston and Garnet “Buzz” Busby, with Tony GallagherChapter 6 – Case study of Widener University and Chester: a story about conflict and collaborationJames T. Harris and Marcine Pickron-DavisChapter 7 – School–university partnerships for democratic citizenship: a case study from the Russian FederationClaudia Lenz and Iryna SaborChapter 8 – Higher education institutions as pillars of their communities: the role of anchor institutionsRichard Guarasci and David MaurrassePART III – INNOVATION AND INCLUSIONChapter 9 – Democratic innovation and inclusionMildred GarcíaChapter 10 – Diversity and inclusion in higher education in Germany: developments and challengesViola B. GeorgiChapter 11 – Doing the hard work: democratic practice in US higher educationRenée T. WhiteChapter 12 – A view from within: a perspective on a democratic cross-sector partnership in a global contextCharlene J. GrayChapter 13 – The development of public engagement with research policy agenda in the United KingdomPaul MannersChapter 14 – Connected learning: innovation in the face of conflictMartin HallChapter 15 – Universities and demanding timesAleksa BjelišPART IV – NEW TECHNOLOGIESChapter 16 – New technologies and their implications for higher education’s democratic mission: themes from the Arab regionWalid Moussa and Kamal AbouchedidChapter 17 – The implications of new technologies for US higher educationPhilip G. RogersPART V – THE WAY FORWARDChapter 18 – Higher education and democratic innovation: bringing the threads togetherMatthew HartleyChapter 19 – Beyond the stereotypes of generations X, Y and Z: higher education for democratic innovation and enhancing citizens’ engagementLigia DecaChapter 20 – Opportunities and strategies to advance university civic engagement and democratic innovationRobert M. HollisterChapter 21 – US higher education, community engagement and democratic innovation: a historical overview and suggestions for moving forwardIra HarkavyChapter 22 – Anchor institutions for Europe? Higher education institutions as community actorsSjur BerganCONTRIBUTORS

Democracy is increasingly the standard against which societies are measured. The term “democratic culture” designates the set of attitudes and behaviours that citizens need to have for democratic institutions and laws to function in practice. This is an important development from older perceptions of democracy, which focused on institutions, laws and procedures. It is a recognition that democracy will not function unless citizens want it to function. In all countries there are committed individuals aspiring to make their societies better democracies.

As the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has said on several occasions, our societies seek to address 21st-century issues through 19th-century institutions. Through contributions by authors from Europe, North America and other parts of the world, this book explores how higher education can help find new ways to develop commitment to public space and societal engagement and make democracy more vibrant.